Can anyone explain to me what
“rale au beurre noir” means?
In the Ian Fleming story
“The Hildebrandt Rarity”, our old friend 007 asks his host if they can have this. As far as I can tell, it would mean the wheeze (or respiratory rattle) of a black Anjou pear. Hmm, that can`t be right. Is Bond asking his friend to dig up a local hooker or something?
“Beurre noir” is butter for sauces which is cooked until it is dark brown, which gives it a distinctive flavor. I’m not sure what “rale” would be.
Here you go. Look under Main Courses:
Probably a typo-- I think it’s usually La Raie au Beurre Noir.
Thank you all for such prompt and helpful answers.
I love Fleming as a writer but his trick of throwing in sexual comments in French slang can be irritating. I suppose it was necessary in the 1950s or perhaps he just liked to show how cultured he was.
Iwas going to mention that a quick Google search leads me to believe it is a skate dish, but I see cher3 beat me to it, with the same website, no less!